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India's
Orissa reels under anti-Christian riots, many churches burnt
WSN Network
Orissa: Nightmare replaced celebrations
for Christians in India as right wing Hindu hoodlums of Vishwa Hindu
Parishad went around attacking Christians in this coastal state, and
particularly on target were poor and famished tribals. Churches were
burnt and at least one person was killed but there was little
reaction in the Indian print or electronic media which focussed on
film personalities celebrating Christmas.
Till this edition was going to the press, riots were continuing in
Kandhamal district Wednesday despite curfew orders and Vishwa Hindu
Parishad activists were not letting police from entering villages
where they attacked Christians. There was no talk of calling the
army. And CM Naveen Patnaik declared situation was under control.
Curfew was imposed in four towns after a youth was killed and six
churches and a minister's houses were targeted on Tuesday in
largescale communal violence and arson in Orissa's Kandhamal
district following an attack on a VHP leader who led an
anti-conversion movement.
Central Reserve Police Force was being rushed, said one report.
A youth was killed in mob violence at Barakhamba, a senior police
officer said, adding he was yet to be identified. At least six
churches, mostly built in thatched houses, were either ransacked or
the vacant premises set on fire since on Monday night as tension
built up in the area.
Curfew was imposed in district headquarters town of Phulbani,
Baliguda, Daringibadi and Brahmanigaon.Twelve churches were
targetted by vandals since Monday night and additional forces
deployed in sensitive pockets of the district where of the total
6.50 lakh population, more than one lakh belonged to Christian
community.
Three churches were set on fire at Baliguda on Monday night, and
three others were burnt on Tueaday. Churches at Chakapada, Giringia
and Phiringia were also ransacked before being set afire.
Plans over celebrations of Christmas were opposed by the local
Hindus and this led to clashes between the Hindu and Christian
groups. Phulbani area is one of the most communally sensitive
regions and clashes between Hindus and Christians are a known fact.
Policemen who went to Daringbadi, Phiringia and Chakapada blocks
were not allowed access by the mob which took to streets after
80-year-old VHP leader Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati was allegedly
attacked on Monday.
The VHP-sponsored bandh coincided with a two-day shut-down called by
"Kui samaj sammanwaya samiti", a tribal outfit demanding Scheduled
Tribe status to Dalit Christians.
26 December, 2007
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